erect

/ɪˈɹɛkt/

//ɪˈɹɛkt// adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"erect" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“erect” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #14,524 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#14,524
frequency rank, English
5
letters
7
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Upright; vertical or reaching broadly upwards.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

erect vs eric
60% similar
erect vs exec
60% similar
erect vs event
60% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for erect
PropertyValue
Headworderect
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ɪˈɹɛkt/
Letters5
Frequency rank#14,524
Misspellings tracked7
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “erect” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). erect lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for erect is 5 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɪˈɹɛkt/. Corpus data places it at rank #14,524 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 7 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 7 likely wrong-spelling variants for erect, with forms such as "eerct", "ercet", and "erecct". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "eric", "exec", "event", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English erect, a borrowing from Latin ērectus (“upright”), past participle of ērigō (“raise, set up”), from ē- (“out”) + regō (“to direct, keep straight, guide”). The correct English form is erect, spelled E-R-E-C-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    Upright; vertical or reaching broadly upwards.
  2. 2
    Rigid, firm; standing out perpendicularly, especially as the result of stimulation.
  3. 3
    Having an erect penis or clitoris.
  4. 4
    Bold; confident; free from depression; undismayed.
  5. 5
    Directed upward; raised; uplifted.
  6. 6
    Watchful; alert.
  7. 7
    Elevated, as the tips of wings, heads of serpents, etc.

Etymology

From Middle English erect, a borrowing from Latin ērectus (“upright”), past participle of ērigō (“raise, set up”), from ē- (“out”) + regō (“to direct, keep straight, guide”).

Antonyms

flaccid

This word in other languages

erecto(Español)dressé(Français)erigiert(Deutsch)ereto(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: eerct,ercet,erecct,erectt,eretc,errect,reect

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of erect - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

eerct2ercet2erecct1erectt1eretc2errect1reect2
Edit distance from "erect"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "erect"?
"erect" is spelled E-R-E-C-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪˈɹɛkt/.
What does "erect" mean?
As an adjective, "erect" means: Upright; vertical or reaching broadly upwards.
What words are commonly confused with "erect"?
"erect" is commonly confused with "eric", "exec", "event". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "erect"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "erect" is /ɪˈɹɛkt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "erect"?
From Middle English erect, a borrowing from Latin ērectus (“upright”), past participle of ērigō (“raise, set up”), from ē- (“out”) + regō (“to direct, keep straight, guide”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “erect”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is E-R-E-C-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɪˈɹɛkt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “eric” - see the side-by-side comparison. erect vs eric
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list